Electric switch



(No Model.)

GxR. LEAN. ELECTRIC SWITCH.

No. 445,957. Patented Peb. 3,1891.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE R. LEAN, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO Tlll 13E TN- STEIN ELECTRIC COMPANY, OF PORTLAND, MAINE.

SWITCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 445,957, dated February 3, 1891.

Application filed March 24, 1890,

T0 aZ/ who/1t it may conce/'lts lBe it known that I, GEORGE R. LEAN, of Boston, county of Suitolk, State ot )lassachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Electric Switches, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying` drawings, is a specification, like letters and figures on the 'drawings representing like parts.

This invention has for its object to ccnstruct an electric switch especially adapted for switching a loop or branch wire into and out of circuit with a main-line wire, the switch being designed :for use in connection with high-tension currents.

The principal feature of this invention is in constructing the parts so that when the loop or branch wire is connected to the mainline wire a closed shunt is formed for said loop or branch wire between the connectingpoints, which is thereafter opened, that the entire current may pass through the loop or branch, and when the loop or branch wire is disconnected from the main line said loop or branch will be opened before the main line is closed; and my invention consists in details of construction, as hereinafter pointed out in the claims at the end ot' the specification.

Figure l shows in front elevation an electric switch embodying this invention, the parts being` in position to disconnect theloop or branch from the mainline wire; Fig. 2, a similar View to Fig. l, the parts being in position to connect the loop or branch with the main-line wire, but at the same time maintaining a closed shunt for the loop or branch; Fig. 3, a similar View to Fig. l, the parts being in position to connect the loop or branch with the main-line wire and to open the shunt so that the said loop or branch is included directly in the main-line circuit; Fig. ,a side View of the switch shown in Fig. l; Fig. 5, a rear side View of one of the members to be referred to; Fig. (3, an edge View of the parts shown in Fig. 5, and Fig. 7 an edge View of one of the parts to be referred to.

The base-plate a is of any suitable shape and construction to sustain the workin g parts. Arranged on the base-plate care tour blocks Serial No. 345,125. (No model.)

or posts l c il e, to which the main-line and the loop or branch wires are attached-as,for instance, the main-line wires being attached to the blocks l) c and the loop orbranch wires to the blocks d c. One or more contact-pens, as c', two being herein shown, are attached to the main-line blocks c, and a contact-plate c2 is pivotally connected to a plate electrically connected with the branch-line block d, said plate being secured to a block c* ot insulating material. A rod cL is also fixed to the block c3, which passes through a hole in a stud c5, loosely connected with or pivoted to an arm yz'. The hole or passage in the stud c5, through which the rod passes, is lined with insulating material, or the stud itself maybe made of insulating material. A spiral spring c encircles the rod c", bearing at one end against the block c;E and at the other end against the stud The arm 'i is pivot-ed at t directly opposite the pivot of the block c3, and the spring cS tends to hold the said arm i against one or the other fixed pin 2 3 on the base plate, said spring being compressed when the arm and rod are brought into alignment.

Switches of this kind must be quick-acting, and the spring c6 and its connection with the arm t' is for this purpose constituting what is commonly called a jump-switch.

A contact-plate n is secured to or Vformed integral with the arm t, which when the arm is moved from its position shown in Fig. l toward the right contacts with one or more contact-pens n', two being herein shown. These pens n are electrically connected with the branch-line block c.

ll'ith the parts thus tar described, by moving the arm i sufficiently to enable the contact-plate 'n to contact with the pens n the contact-plate c2 will contact with the pens c. as shown in Fig. 2. The branclrline blocks d c will at such time be connected with the main-line blocks b c electrically. An arm m is also pivoted at L" in a plane parallel with the arm fi, said arm m haring a contact-plate vm', which engages contact-pens m?, two being herein shown. These pens m2 are connected to the mainline block c. The arm m has a slot fm, in which slot a pin or stud mi, fixed IOO to the arm i, moves. The arms m and i are connected, preferably at their outer ends, by a spiral spring m5.

Vith the parts in the position shown in Fig. l the contact-plate fm is in engagement with the contact-pens m2, and the loop or branch wireis disconnected, so that the main# line current passes through the main-line block or post b, arm on, contact-plate m', contact-pens m2, and main-line block or post c. As the arm t' is moved toward the right into the position .shown in Fig. 2, the pin fm,4 follows in the slotfm, but does not engage with the arm m unt-il the arm t and rod c4 are in alignment. The spring m5 during such movement of the arm z' acts 'upon and causes the arm m to follow the arm t', but at a less rate of speed, it being understood that the spring 'm5 is not strong enough to pull the arm m with the arm i. Then the parts arrive in this position, Fig. 2, it will be seen that the loop or branch-line blocks (l e are connected with the main-line wire,but at the same time the contact-plate m has not left the contactpens m2, and hence ashunt is maintained for the loop or branch wire. As soon, however, as the arm t' passes further to the right and immediately beyond true alignment with yt-he rod c4, the spring cG will force the arm i against thel fixed pin 3,as shown in Fig. 3, and the y pin m4 will `move the arm m simultaneously with the arm t', the spring m5 exerting its force to bring the arms together.

lt'will be seen that the shunt for the loop or branch is broken after the said loop or branch has been connected with the mainline wire.

To restore the parts to their normal position, or to the position illustrated in Fig. l, the armi is moved in the opposite direction, compressing the spring c6, as aforesaid, and a pin et on the arm t' striking the side of the arm m moves the said arm m with it. On the rel turn of the parts, when the arm m and rod il are in alignment and the contact-plates c2 and n just leaving their respective contact-pens, the contact-plate m will be in position to immediately thereafter engage the contact-pens m2, thereby closing the main line at m m2 immediately after the contact-plates c2 anda have left their respective contact-pens c n. Thus on the return of the parts to disconnect the loop'fromv the main line the main line will be closed after the said loop has been electrically disconnected. The contact pens and plates constitute switches between the respective posts for making and breaking the electric connection. A bell-crank lever ois pivoted at o', one arm of said lever being pressed upon by a 'fiat' spring o2, carrying a contact-plate o3, and :they other arm being held by a link 0^1 of fusible material.

lf by any accident an arc should be formed between'the contact-pens m2 and the contactplatem and the link o4 should fuse, the'contact-plate o3 will be allowed to engage the contact-pens m2. The iiat spring o2 is connected y with the block so that in the event of vthe contact -plate o3 engaging the contact-pens ym2 the main-li ne circuit will be closed.

I do not desire to limit myself tothe pre- Y- cise construction herein shown of connecting the loop or branch circuit with the main-line wire and thereafter opening the shunt to permit thel entire current to pass over said loop or branch wire, as it may be constructed in many dierent ways still coming within the spirit and scope of this invention; nor doI desire to limit my invention to the particular construction of switch herein shown for connecting a loop or branch wire to a main line and thereafter opening the main line to allow the current to pass over said loop or branch and for disconnecting said loop or branch wire from the'main line and thereafter closing said main line. t

An operating-lever t is arranged on the pivoted pin t', which engages a pin 6 on the arm t' to move it in a manner similar to vordinary jump-switches.

I claim- 1. In an electric switch, two main-line blocks and a switch between them,two branchline blocks and a switch between each branchline block and the main-line blocks, the movable members of the branch-line switches operating in advance of the movable member of the main-line switch at every movement thereof, substantially as described.

2. In an electric switch, two vmain-line blocks and a switch between them for making and breaking an electric connection, combined with a branch-line block, as e, and a switch between it and one of the main-line blocks, the movable members of said switches being 'elastically connected together, and means for moving said members, substantially as described.

3. In an electric switch, two main line blocks and a switch between them te make and break an electric connection, combined' with two branch-line blocks, and a switch between each branch-line block and the mainline blocks to make and break an electric connection, and two arms carrying the movable members of said switches moving independ# ently in one direction, but simultaneously in the other direction, substantially as described.

4. In an electric switch, two main -line blocks and a switch between them, and an arm, as m, carrying the movable member thereof, combined with two branch-lineblocks, and a switch between each of saidA blocks and the main-line blocks, and an arm, as i, carrying the movable members of one of said lastnamed switches., one of said arms' engaging and moving the other when moved in Yone dil rcction, but moving independently when moving in the oppositedirection, lsubstantiallyas described.

5. ln an electric switch, two main -vline blocks, a contact-pen, and contact-plate between them t'om'ake'and break an electric connection, combined with twobranch-lineblocks,

IOO

IIO

and n contact-pen and contact-plate between each of said branch-line blocks and the inninline blocks to make Arnd break electric connection between each ol' said branch-line blocks and the nmin-line blocks, and means for moving,` said contact-plates, substantially as described.

(5. In an electric switch, two main line blocks and n switch between them, two branchline blocks, and a switch between each branchline block and the main-line blocks, n spring vfor moving` the movable member of themainline switch to make and break electric connection, :ind n han d-lever for m oving' the movable members ot' the branch-line switches and extending the operating-spring ot' the inninline switch, substantially as described.

7. In an electric switch, main-line blocks and n contact-pen between them, a contactplate, and arm carrying it, combined with branch-line blocks, contact-pens between said blocks and the main-line blocks, contactplates c`1 and 11, the arm androd el, connected together, the spring e, and the loosely-connected operating-lever f, snbstmltinlly as described.

S. In nn electric switch, main-line blocks and a contact-pen between them, n contactplate,` and arm m carrying` it, combined with branch-l ine blocks, contact-pens, and con taetplntes, the :mn i, having :t pin m4, and :L pin I to engage and move the said arm m, substantinlly ns described.

fl. In nn electric switch, two main -line blocks and u switch between them, combined with n branch-line block, as e, and a switch between it and one of the main-line blocks, the movable member ot' the branclrline switch operating' in advance 01"; the movable member of the main-line switch at every movement thereof, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence ot two subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE R. LEAN.

Witnesses:

BERNIGE J. Noves, EMMA J. BENNET". 

